Properties of fluorinated non-ionic surfactant-based systems and comparison with non-fluorinated systems

• Published in: Colloids and surfaces. A, Physicochemical and engineering aspects Physicochemical and engineering aspects, 1994-04, Vol.84 (1), p.11-31
• Main Authors: Ravey, J.C., Stébé, M.J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adsorption; Chemistry; Emulsion; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Liquid crystal; Micellization; Phase diagram; Solubility; Surface physical chemistry; Surface-active agents: properties
• ISSN: 0927-7757; 1873-4359
• DOI: 10.1016/0927-7757(93)02731-S

A whole set of recent investigations performed on series of non-ionic surfactants is used to compare the hydrophobicity of hydrocarbon and fluorocarbon chains, whether or not they are parts of amphiphiles. Various types of study are reported and discussed: micellization, air/water interface adsorption, solubility in water, phase diagrams, water—fluorocarbon cosolubilization, micellar structures, gel-emulsions, vesicles, etc. In particular, the thermodynamic data for micellization (or monomer solubility) and of air/water adsorption are compared and analysed in terms of the surface area or volume of the cavity created by the CH 2, CF 2, CF 3 and CH 3 groups, and are correlated to the data of solubilization in water. Several sets of useful (empirical) equations are also presented concerning the CMC and phase inversion temperature as a function of the chemical formulae of the compounds (fluorocarbons and surfactants). The two types of system appear to be quite similar, with analogous structures and phase properties, apart from some shift in temperature. A difference in behaviour could be found in a marked tendency to form lamellar liquid crystals: as for the micellar structures (larger aggregates), this has to be ascribed to the larger size of the CF 2 group.